After a first half in which they lacked a cutting edge, Celtic eventually broke Hearts in the second to continue their perfect start to the season.

Arne Engels opened the scoring with a clever penalty just after the break. Substitute Luke McCowan then also grabbed his maiden goal in green and white, sealing the win late on after mounting pressure from the visitors.

Hearts’ search for a win this season goes on, but the Scottish Premiership champions remain out in front five games into the campaign. 

CELTIC

Kasper Schmeichel – 6

The Dane made some routine saves in the first half and smartly kept out Musa Drammeh late in the second as Hearts searched for an equaliser.  

Alistair Johnston – 7 

Johnston got up and down the right-hand side easily. He was strong in the tackle and carried out his defensive work well.

Cameron Carter-Vickers – 7

The American colossus dealt with the threat posed by Lawrence Shankland and Kenneth Vargas adeptly. 

Carter-Vickers won most of his defensive duels and didn’t falter on the ball.  

Liam Scales – 6 

Colin Steven gave a penalty against the left centre-back early doors although the decision was quickly overturned.

Auston Trusty provides added competition to Scales but on current form, it is difficult to see the Irishman getting dropped.

Greg Taylor – 6

As uncertainty over his contractual situation prolongs, Taylor continues to put in passable performances.

The left-back made some needed defensive actions in the opening stages and took up his inverted role well.   

Callum McGregor – 6 

The Celtic skipper couldn’t keep his recent scoring spree going although did appear to benefit from some rare time off during the international break as he buzzed about the middle of the park. 

Reo Hatate – 5

Hatate was slack with the ball at times and couldn’t seem to find his feet in the game.

The 26-year-old was brought off for Paulo Bernardo just after the hour mark, to which he wasn’t pleased, storming straight up the tunnel.

Arne Engels – 8

Celtic’s record signing couldn’t have had a better first start in green and white. The midfielder looked mobile, equally combative, and adept in possession.

With considerable pressure on his young shoulders, Engels smartly converted from the spot just after the break to give his side the lead, sending a helpless Craig Gordon the wrong way after a smart stutter.

Daizen Maeda – 6

The electric Japanese wide-man was ever-willing to run in behind but didn’t particularly set it alight and was subbed off on 80 minutes for Luis Palma.

Nicolas Kuhn – 7 

The German winger looked a continual threat on the right, constantly drifting inside and playing several balls in behind the Hearts backline.

Kyogo Furuhashi – 5 

It was a disappointing day at the office for the usually clinical striker. 

Furuhashi couldn’t convert when sent clean through on goal in the first half, blazing his effort wide of the post in a frustrating afternoon.

Substitutes 

Paulo Bernardo – 6

Bernardo was unfortunate to drop to the bench for Engels today. He came on with 25 to go, though, and done himself no harm with a typically bullish midfield display.

James Forrest – 6 

The veteran winger was introduced with 25 to go and set up Luke McCowan for the sealer late on.

Luke McCowan – 7

The boyhood Celtic fan made a positive impact. McCowan took the place of Engels and identically to the Belgian, scored his first goal for Celtic.

Receiving the ball from Forrest just outside the box, the 26-year-old forced it into the far corner to ease any nerves in his team’s camp.

Adam Idah – 5

The Irishman thought he scored his first goal as a permanent Celtic player late on before it was ruled out for offside.

Luis Palma – 5

Palma came on with 10 to play but other than a dangerous cross for an offside Idah goal, didn’t bring much to the table.

Heart of Midlothian

Craig Gordon – 5

The veteran was equal to most of the strikes he faced. 

Gordon could do little to prevent Engels’ clever spot-kick from finding the back of the net but will be disappointed with his efforts to save McCowan’s late effort.

Gerald Taylor – 6

Taylor has failed to find consistency after his opening-day display against Rangers.

He was willing to get forward, though, and made a critical clearance off the line seven minutes in.

Craig Halkett – 5

All of Hearts’ centre-halves were similar in their performance levels. Identically to his teammates Rowles and Kingsley, Halkett did well when called upon as he played the full game. 

Kye Rowles – 6 

The man from down under made a multitude of defensive actions in a relatively solid performance, despite his side conceding two goals. 

Stephen Kingsley – 5

The defender looked to play the ball forward from defence on several occasions and could do nothing to prevent any of Celtic’s strikes.

James Penrice – 6

The ex-Livingston defender had a busy day at the office. Penrice remained a threat down the left and made a magnificent clearance off the line to deny what looked to be a certain Nicolas Kuhn goal at the end of the first half.

At the beginning of the second 45, however, he was adjudged to have handled the ball and gave away a penalty.

Malachi Boateng – 5

The 22-year-old was the only starter in the Hearts engine room to play the full 90.

Boateng wasn’t afraid to get stuck in and had a wayward header fly wide of the post in stoppage time.

Beni Baningime – 5

Withdrawn through injury with just over 10 minutes remaining on the clock, Baningime sat as the deepest Hearts midfielder.

He helped his side break out of pressure on a few occasions yet didn’t particularly catch the eye.

Jorge Grant – 5 

Grant started as the most advanced of Hearts’ midfield trio. He played a part in much of the Jambos’ rare forays forward but was hooked with 20 to play.

Kenneth Vargas – 6

Vargas was a willing runner throughout. He constantly chased down Celtic’s defenders and offered an outlet in behind.

Steven Naismith replaced him with Musa Drammeh midway through the second 45, however. 

Lawrence Shankland – 5 

The Hearts captain tested Schmeichel a few times in the first half but left the majority of the frontline hard yards to his strike partner Vargas. Came off for Alan Forrest in the closing stages.

Substitutes

Musa Drammeh – 5

The imposing centre-forward looked a threat after coming on with 20 to go. 

Drammeh had a considerable opportunity to equalise late on, but Schmeichel was equal to his close-range effort. 

Yan Dhanda – 4

Moved the ball well in the midfield in a brief cameo. 

Cammy Devlin – 4

Made something of an impact but ultimately couldn’t help in his side’s quest to take something from the match.

Alan Forrest – 5

His brother James bagged an assist from the bench. Alan could have set a goal up, too, but Drameh couldn’t convert from his dangerously floated cross.

Blair Spittal – 3

Came on with just under 10 to go and wasn’t particularly influential.